I'm about to buy a 72w x 25.5d x 24.5h reef aquarium. My local shop has it on the floor for me and will be happy to trade it up to a taller one (30" high) but they are cautioning against it. They say that either the corals on the bottom won't get enough light or, if you take up the light intensity, the corals in the middle to top of the tank get coral bleaching and die. Any thoughts/recommendations?
How deep is too deep?
- Thread starter Don Greiner
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Greybeard
2500 Club Member
I like shallow... but their argument doesn't hold water. Creating a reef in a deeper tank might give you a bit more of a challenge, but it's not something that can't be overcome. There are plenty of 30" deep tanks around to prove it.
Really tall, narrow tanks can be a challenge to keep well oxygenated. This one isn't in that category.
Really tall, narrow tanks can be a challenge to keep well oxygenated. This one isn't in that category.
My tank is 30" deep, sometimes a little difficult to work on. I use longer tools,and you get used to it. As far as lights mine are about 13' off the top and there is no issue with light getting to the bottom. I run 10 AI Hydra 52 HD.
Joe Yaiullo has a 20k gallon aquarium that's more than 6' deep. His 1000w MH can't reach more than 3-4', but his 200w LED's bleach SPS at the sand bed.
Depth isn't an issue in general, unless you're tank is more than 4' deep -- then it's only an issue if you aren't using LED's.
Depth isn't an issue in general, unless you're tank is more than 4' deep -- then it's only an issue if you aren't using LED's.
DesertReefT4r
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Too deep is requiring 20 minute decompression after cleaning the bottom of the tank.
mcarroll
10K Club member
If I'm doing the math right, I think it's 40" from the top-front where you dropped the coral/frag plug/other thing to the back-bottom where that thing immediately rolled.
So @Don Greiner how tall is your armpit? And how long are your arms?
Does he have a thread somewhere with this info?
He's a marine biologist at a public aquarium, his 20,000g tank is 26 years old, he speaks at macna almost every single year. You'd have to watch his macna videos, I think it was 2016 macna he was talking about this.
Sarah24!
2500 Club Member
Hello,
I have a 240 and my tank is 34 inches deep and it’s not really a problem. In addition I’m a tiny person and my arms are about the size of smurfetts. Yes, lol my whole shoulder and then some gets submerged. It took some talent on my parent not getting my hair wet and or dunking and drowning myself. I would never go back to a shallow tank, the height is really neat.
I would agree with others that your lfs, are not really being very honest with you. (That should be a red flag). To clean my glass I use a magnet about every two days. It’s much much easier when there is not a major build up. I hope this helps and if you need anything else just ask.
Sarah
I have a 240 and my tank is 34 inches deep and it’s not really a problem. In addition I’m a tiny person and my arms are about the size of smurfetts. Yes, lol my whole shoulder and then some gets submerged. It took some talent on my parent not getting my hair wet and or dunking and drowning myself. I would never go back to a shallow tank, the height is really neat.
I would agree with others that your lfs, are not really being very honest with you. (That should be a red flag). To clean my glass I use a magnet about every two days. It’s much much easier when there is not a major build up. I hope this helps and if you need anything else just ask.
Sarah
I agree with others that the biggest issue with the deeper tank is your ability to reach the bottom, not the intensity of the light. Yes, deeper may mean less par at the bottom, but that could allow you to keep a mix of corals that have a broader range of par requirements.
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He's a marine biologist who works in a public aquarium, he's not a member of any online forums or anything like that.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
He was MASNA's Aquarist of the Year in 2016
He's also spoken at MACNA a number of times (and will be there this year too).
http://macnaconference.org/2018/talks/joe-yaiullo/
Don’t listen to me; I’m new to this. But I’m pretty sure there are coral and fish living in the ocean, even where it’s over 30’ deep. How do people in your shop think light gets down there?
Seriously, how does the extra viewing area balance out for you against the effort to reach that bottom?
Seriously, how does the extra viewing area balance out for you against the effort to reach that bottom?
ScubaShane
MENTAL REEF DISORDER!
Larger Tangs really enjoy that extra 6" of swiming space.
